Following the record-breaking success of the augmented reality gaming app, Pokémon Go, in an interview Microsoft’s forward-thinking CEO Satya Nadella stated he thought it was “fantastic” such apps were being built, but he also believes such a thing will translate into more diverse interests in augmented reality, specifically with Microsoft’s own AR headset HoloLens.

Pokémon Go’s success, however, is largely due to the fact of its simplicity, and that anyone with an Android or iOS device (in regions where the AR game is currently available) can download and play. As of July 8^th the app had already been installed on 5.16 percent of all Android devices in the United States. Meanwhile, John Hanke, CEO of Pokémon Go developer Niantic, Inc., has accorded some of the app’s success to the fact people can play while exercising and also that players can “go out and have new experiences.”

The HoloLens augmented reality headset is a different matter altogether, with users likely to remain in a contained environment. The Microsoft CEO did say however: “But think about now what that game would mean on HoloLens. You’re not trying to use a phone when you can actually just use your eyes to look through and have that augmented reality experience.”

He’s right of course, the experience would be fantastic, but all the same an expensive experience with the player likely feeling somewhat constricted by the headset.

While AR gaming will surely only become much bigger on the back of what we have just witnessed with Pokémon Go, Nadella is looking for other scenarios it which AR will become indispensable. He mentions education, manufacturing, training, architecture, all areas in which Microsoft has already demonstrated how HoloLens can be useful. Only recently was it reported that Japan Airlines will be using HoloLens to train pilots, and it’s this kind of area where Nadella sees huge transformations related to AR.

That being said, Hanke has already hinted that Pokémon Go could soon be coming to other AR devices, and Microsoft’s HoloLens is ahead in the queue reports suggest.

Photo credit: joeypedras via Flickr